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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

If you tried out the HP505 in a store, you owe it to them to talk about what their best offer is. It's only fair considering you have used their shop to help you decide. They have to survive too. If it wasn't for them, we'd never be able to try anything again before buying. I'm sure they will get very close to any online price you can find, plus if there are any problems or you need help, you'll have a local face to talk to.

Ando, that depends on location, and that's why I posed the question to the OP.

Why? Because in North America, the premium pianos are only sold at piano stores. That means no online sales and no pricing available over the phone.

The HP505 probably falls into this category. It's likely NOT available online. That's part of the dealer's agreement with the manufacturer. So there is no means for trying the piano in the store and then buying (cheaper) online.

So rather than ask the dealer for his offer, it's incumbent on the buyer to make his own offer.

(Elsewhere in the world the rules are different. In Europe, for example, many of the premium pianos seem to be available from online vendors.)

I'm in Western MA. Today I called two stores about the 505. One, the one I've been visiting lately hasn't called back yet. The other, one hr away (West of Hartford CT) quoted me $3350 incl tax and delivery (which he said he'd not charge me for). I should have asked if he'd haul off my old piece of junk too.

I didn't counter offer, I didn't know I could. He told me list is $3999 but that's not what he sells it for. I asked what the price was and he said $3350. This is for rosewood finish, apparently it makes a difference.

Seeing your $3100 makes me feel I was given a fair price. With tax being 6.35% or so, mine would be $3150 or so.

FWIW, list prices are calculated in a variety of ways even within the same brand. osbornsm's price is $200 below MAP. SkierDude's quote is actually below the MAP price for that DP when you consider tax, assembly & delivery. Finish does matter as the Polish finish has a list price of $1000 more.

Whether you agree with it or not, manufacturers tend to want their premium products sold differently. If you want to pay less, you may have to look at something like Roland's DP-90 (available online) which specs similarly, but with slimline cabinet and smaller speakers, or ask your dealer about a floor model discount if there are any.

It also confirms the HP307 on eBay for 3400 incl shipping is overpriced (but is selling... They have 1 left. Glad I found you).

Mac's suggested discount is arbitrary and probably reflects his experience. It's not truly tied to any cost/profit/discount formula that is standard or necessarily common.

Since shipping charges for a large console DP can vary significantly even within the US (I shipped a similar-sized console from Atlanta to Montana and the shipping & insurance charge was $419, UPS & FedEx were over $550), the ebay price (including ebay fees) is MAP + a fee to subsidize the shipping. Items like that are often classified as LTL Freight, sent by the big trucks, i.e. expensive. After credit card fees, my profit on that particular deal was seriously like $40.

My example definitely reflects the higher end of shipping as others will be less that $200, but the ebay seller is taking a gamble that it isn't going somewhere too remote.

Price for the HP-505 here in Europe is at the moment around 2300 EUR. If you would find it here for less, you would be very lucky, while finding it for this price should be quite possible everywhere. Prices do not differ so much here, and it is not usual to negotiate here to the extend as others seem to do so in USA.You here wonÂ´t get it for 2000 EUR anymore, after prices increased end of summer.